Are murder mystery nights any good?

Reviewed by Jayne D’Arcy

Hi, I’m Jacinta Jamieson, and I’m a silent fi lm actress. I’m not really, but tonight I’m getting dolled up in 1920s clothes (hurriedly sourced from my local op shop), grabbing my partner for the evening (who, tonight, will be known as Scarlett Pipps, my silent fi lm co-star) and dining at Abbotsford’s Retreat Hotel, which, tonight, shall be referred to as Lord Quinten Daventry’s Manor. At some point during the three hours of the evening, someone will die.

I’m not sure how to approach my fi rst-ever murder mystery night. The Dinner to Die For folk email me my character’s details before the big night, and I’m glad to see the line in the email that says “you are welcome to play your character as little or as much as you like”.

We gather at The Retreat’s bar (once a set for The Sullivans) and it’s immediately obvious that some folk have put a lot of effort into dressing up for tonight. There are feather boas, cute hats and dapper suits. A bumbling butler gathers us with a roll call, hands out name cards and, ringing a bell, guides us up The Retreat’s stairwell and into Lord Daventry’s dining room.

Actors play seven of the dinner party’s hosts and guests, and Scarlett and I are lucky (or unlucky) enough to be seated on either side of Colonel Bernard Braithwaite-Ramsey, a — as he’s described on A Dinner to Die For’s website — “lecherous gentleman”.

Before I know it, this lecherous gentleman is serenading me, which is not as bad as it sounds. Most guests have slipped into their roles and are attempting to carry out tasks they were informed of in the email. Scarlett and I are supposed to try to get a movie producing couple to sign us up for their up-and-coming “talkies” movies. It’s a great way to get mingling.

The drama builds around us as each of our three courses is served. Attention is also upon us; Scarlett, who is almost the only vegetarian in the room (possibly a progressive stance in the 1920s), is in the spotlight as the meal’s delay is blamed on “the vegetarian”. I chow down a fairly average slice of turkey while Gwendella Garavinah, a wonderful gypsy-like character, generously loads Scarlett’s plate with her own uneaten vegetables.

Proving that minds can be changed, Scarlett rethinks her “there’s no way I’ll be singing tonight” statement and we fi nd ourselves up the front singing with two other guests. I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to be putting two and two together, but before I know it there are screams outside the dining room and we’re encouraged to come out to see the body at the bottom of the stairs.

Let’s just say there would be no more serenades.

Who did it? Can’t say. As the murder gets resolved, characters with names like Fanny and Roger the butler ensure that there’s plenty of double entendre. Before we know it the actors have changed out of costume and are joining us for a drink. It’s clear that some of our fellow diners thoroughly enjoyed being another person for the night, and why not? It’s kooky, it’s fun and, let’s face it, how often do adults get to play pretend?

THE FACTSA Dinner to Die for is $80 per person, including dinner and show (but not drinks).

The next dates are September 4, 11, 18, November 27 and December 4 and 11. Check a dinner to die for.com or call The Retreat on 9417 2693.

Handy Hint: The more you play your character, the more fun you’ll have.